March 28, 2012

There’s good news: an alleged serial groper who felt up four teenage girls in about two hours last week in Inwood has been arrested. Believe it or not, the suspect’s a convicted sex offender who’s currently wanted in Rhode Island.

Danis Pelaez, 35, was arrested last week after the alleged March 22 groping spree, during which he told victims “god bless you” after the alleged gropings.

The victims range in age from 13 to 18. Each were attacked while walking to school near Academy Street and Broadway.

Police say Pelaez first struck about 7:40 a.m. on the aforementioned
date when he approached a 13-year-old victim, grabbed her butt and
thigh, and then told her “god bless you.”

About two hours later, at 9:30, Pelaez struck again — this time
grabbing a 16-year-old by the waist and telling her how pretty she is.

Two minutes later, he allegedly grabbed an 18-year-old woman’s butt. The
victim told him to “get away,” at which point he allegedly rubbed his
body against her.

About 10 a.m., police say Pelaez was at it again, this time telling
another 18-year-old she was “sexy” before grabbing her and trying to
pull her into his body as she tried to enter a store.

One of the victims identified Pelaez as the alleged groper. He was
arrested shortly after while attempting to flee on foot near Vermilyea
Avenue.

As first reported by DNAinfo, Pelaez is a convicted sex offender out of
Rhode Island, where he’s currently wanted for a probation violation and
failure to change his address.

Pelaez was booked on four counts each of forcible touching and sexual abuse in the third degree and two counts
of endangering the welfare of a child, and ordered held without bail.